The Manus acquisition was blocked. Experts say this shows China remains open to foreign investment, but cautious about key and sensitive investments.

CoinFeed reported on April 29 that the Office of Foreign Investment Security Review of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has banned the foreign acquisition of the Manus project and ordered the transaction to be withdrawn. Earlier this year, Manus, the world's first general-purpose artificial intelligence (GSA) system, announced its impending acquisition by US tech giant Meta. This merger was banned due to issues related to the international environment, key technologies, and data security, setting a precedent. Experts stated that Manus's initial development with Chinese engineers and infrastructure, followed by its relocation to Singapore through capital operations and its attempt to sell to Meta, has drawn regulatory attention. This move demonstrates that while China remains open to foreign investment, it maintains caution regarding critical and sensitive investments, emphasizing compliance and regulation.